Determination method of silicites (siliceous raw materials): An explanation based on four selected raw materials

Linking Neolithic lakeshore settlements through raw material of siliceous artefacts

“…The microfacies method used here is totally non-destructive, since the water wetted surfaces of the artefacts are studied under a stereomicroscope concerning their geological properties, and inexpensive in comparison with the other methods (Affolter 2002: 18-41;Altorfer & Affolter 2011: 31-53). The determination of the geological provenance is based on reconstituting the biotope in which each siliceous material was formed, according to the elements contained in the KSSR (Affolter et al 2022b, Fisher et al 2013Wehren et al 2022). Because water lowers the refraction of light on the surface a view into the uppermost millimetres into the material of the flint is obtained.…”

“…Hence, the geological attribution of the mother rock can be determined which allows to infer to possible outcrops in an area of known geology. The determination of the microfacies reduces the area to be surveyed and thus also the field work to the minimum (Affolter et al 2022b). To assure the determination, the artefacts need to be compared to samples of a reference collection.…”

“…In this paper we examine the spatial mobility patterns visible on siliceous artefacts based on the investigation of raw material provenance of the industry in knappable siliceous sedimentary rocks. In the following the term "siliceous knappable sedimentary rocks" or "KSSR" describes all sedimentary siliceous rocks originating from chemical, biochemical or diagenetic precipitation of SiO2 and consisting of its various mineral modifications (Affolter et al 2022b;Přichystal 2010: 178-179). We do not make use of the terms flint, hornstone or chert for KSSR artefacts, as all these denominations have geological implications which are often wrong.…”